BANGKOK, 6 November 2023: Travellers from Russia, India and Taiwan can now enjoy a temporary visa waiver, according to a Tourism Authority of Thailand statement on its website on 1 November.
Russian nationals can enjoy visa-free travel until 30 April 2024, while for Indians and Taiwanese, the same concession applies from 10 November 2023 until 10 May 2024
Photo credit: TAT. Who gets 30 and 90-day stays visa-free?
Up until 30 April 2024, holders of Russian passports or travel documents will be entitled to a tourist visa exemption for a 90-day stay in Thailand, up from the original 30 days.
For Indian and Taiwanese citizens, they will be granted a temporary visa exemption for a 30-day stay for tourism purposes.
The travel concession for tourists from Russia, India and Taiwan follows the temporary tourist visa exemption implemented for tourists from China and Kazakhstan for a 30-day stay, effective from 25 September 2023 to 29 February 2024.
SINGAPORE, 3 November 2023: As the tourism industry gradually recovers and grows, Trip.com Group strides towards its “Local Focus, Global Vision” strategy by hosting its Global Partner Conference in Singapore for the first time.
Over 2,000 partners from the accommodation, airlines and destination marketing partner companies attended the event held at the Resorts World Singapore – Convention Centre earlier this week.
James Liang, Co–founder and Chairman of Trip.com Group, delivers opening speech at the 2023 Global Partner Summit.
Trip.com Group co-founder and chairman James Liang explained: “At Trip.com Group, we have made it our mission to provide the best travel experience possible. We will explore AI innovation, travel content marketing, and sustainable practices to enhance every aspect of the user experience while preserving our planet and community.”
Trip.com Group CEO Jane Sun recapped the vigorous recovery of its businesses and reflected on the potential for further growth. “Guided by our strategy, multi-dimensional innovations in content marketing and AI-driven products, we have strengthened the group’s business, accelerating our recovery and bringing forward new growth drivers.
“Our approach continues to pay dividends, with the number of Trip.com bookings doubling this year compared to 2019 and the number of flight reservations for our EU partners increasing sevenfold.”
She noted that various businesses in the group have achieved “restorative growth”, with domestic hotel reservation volumes increasing by an average of 60% among Trip.com Group partner hotels. The growth extended to global scenic attraction tickets and reservations on Trip.com. The domestic group tours sector also experienced an increase in Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) with a 53.6% surge compared to the same period in 2019, highlighting the overall resurgence of the industry.
Trip.com Group’s marketing strategies have led to a threefold increase in new customers and a 263% spike in product sales in the first three quarters of the year. They have catalysed remarkable growth, such as a 54 times increase in new customers for air tickets. Diverse product offerings, including multi-scenic attractions tickets, as well as concert tickets with hotel packages, generated an astounding 188-fold increase in hotel reservations in recent months.
Trip.com Group has taken significant steps to incorporate sustainable travel products into its business lines, including flights, car rental, and corporate travel. Over 16 million people have chosen these sustainable travel options, favouring the company’s low-carbon products.
As part of its ongoing commitment to promote a sustainable travel industry, Trip.com Group launched its Low-Carbon Hotel standard initiative, which aims to encourage eco-friendly practices and facilitate a shift towards a more sustainable travel ecosystem by collaborating with hotel partners. Trip.com Group has engaged with nearly 1,000 hotel partners in this transformative project.
THE MALDIVES, 3 November 2023: Multiple award-winning international chef Eyck Zimmer will bring his culinary expertise to the luxury OUTRIGGER Maldives Maafushivaru Resort 17-31 January 2024.
Zimmer will curate two extraordinary five-course dining experiences at the resort’s Art-i-san restaurant, as well as host two captivating cooking demonstrations.
Hailing from Germany, Eyck Zimmer is one of the foremost luminaries in contemporary haute cuisine. His illustrious career has been acclaimed, including the prestigious Meilleur Ouvrier de Grande Bretagne in 2000, British Chef of the Year in 2006 and Portuguese Chef of the Year in 2008. His remarkable contributions to French culture and culinary excellence were acknowledged by the French Government, bestowing upon him the esteemed title of Chevalier du Mérite Agricole in 2014. Furthermore, he earned the distinguished title of Master of Culinary Arts from the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts of Great Britain.
Zimmer’s culinary journey has been punctuated by stints in some of the United Kingdom’s most renowned kitchens, including Claridge’s, The Dorchester, The Ritz and The Savoy. His culinary prowess has also left an indelible mark on five-star establishments in Switzerland, Portugal, Serbia, and Germany.
Presently, Eyck Zimmer serves as the Director of Culinary at the illustrious Jockey Club in Hong Kong, where he continues to channel his passion for the culinary arts. His unwavering dedication to his craft is epitomised by his motto, “Born to cook. No plan B!”
Growing up in East Germany during the era of the Cold War, Zimmer’s affinity for food was cultivated at a young age. Inspired by the renowned French chef Paul Bocuse, he embarked on his culinary journey at 16. Over 36 years, Zimmer has enriched the culinary landscape in six different countries, earning him high acclaim.
It is worth noting that Eyck Zimmer shares an extraordinary history with OUTRIGGER Maldives, as he previously collaborated with the resort’s General Manager, John Allanson, during their time at Rocco Forte’s The Lowry Hotel in Manchester from 2005 to 2007.
Zimmer’s previous collaborations with OUTRIGGER in the Maldives, in 2017 and 2019, were marked by his exceptional commitment to guests and hosts, leaving an indelible impression on those fortunate enough to experience his artistry.
Christopher Long, Executive Chef at OUTRIGGER Maldives Maafushivaru, speaks highly of Eyck Zimmer, noting, “Eyck gave a tremendous amount of time to both guests and hosts on his previous visits. Despite his many achievements, Eyck remains extremely humble. I am particularly looking forward to his return to OUTRIGGER Maldives.”
This January, guests at the OUTRIGGER Maldives Maafushivaru Resort will once again have the privilege of savouring the exquisite culinary creations of Eyck Zimmer, an icon of modern European haute cuisine.
For more information and bookings, visit OUTRIGGER.com or contact your preferred travel advisor. Join OUTRIGGER Maldives Maafushivaru Resort for an unforgettable culinary journey where the art of gastronomy meets the essence of barefoot luxury.
DUBAI, UAE, 3 November 2023: Evoking the spirit and light of Diwali, Emirates will mark the Hindu festival onboard flights to and from India from 9 to 15 November. Diwali delicacies will be served in all classes and select lounges.
Serving its cosmopolitan customer base, Emirates marks many multicultural occasions onboard, from Eid to Christmas, Thanksgiving to Lunar New Year. To honour Diwali, customers travelling to and from Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Cochin, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Thiruvananthapuram, Kolkata, and Mumbai will be treated to a selection of sumptuous Diwali sweets, traditional fare in lounges, and even Diwali-themed cocktails and mocktails in lounges.
Premium Economy and Economy Class passengers can savour a traditional treat of motichoor laddu with their hot meal. One of the most popular sweets enjoyed across India, these deliciously plump flour balls are deep fried and simmered in a sweet blend of cardamom and saffron, to become juicy bitesize laddus. First and Business Class passengers will also be offered a Pista roll, ground cashew nut with an irresistible fudge texture made up of spices, pistachios and edible silver leaf.
In the First Class Lounge in Dubai, customers can savour a Thali set, followed by a dessert of Kulfi Falooda, the traditional Indian ice cream with saffron and pistachio, or enjoy flavoursome Diwali delights like dal kachori and vegetable samosas, washed down with Phuljadi cocktail featuring Woodford reserve, chai mix, lemon, orange and agave. In the Business Class Lounge, customers can also enjoy kachori, samosas, angoori rabdi and rasgullas, as well as Diwali cocktail Rum ta jogi with white rum, elderflower, lemon and pinch of chaat masala. In the Emirates Lounges of Cape Town and Johannesburg, where there are considerable Indian diaspora, travellers can feast on more ladoo, the beloved jalebi – spiral-shaped sweets made with flour and yogurt, and burfi, a signature Indian milk-based melt-in-the-mouth fudge.
Passengers can also choose from hundreds of classic Bollywood movies in the world-class ice entertainment library with up to 260 Indian movies, including new titles, classic Bollywood and regional Indian movies. Movies include box office hits like Bholaa, Drishyam 2, Rocketry: The Nambi Effect and the highly anticipated film Kantara. There is also a special collection of Yash Raj Films, Bollywood’s ‘father of romance’.
Customers can also enjoy music videos from Yash Raj on Indian TV, plus over 30 albums and playlists of Indian music.
BANGKOK, 3 November 2023: THAI Airways International teams up with Mastercard to offer passengers a discount on the new Bangkok-Istanbul service starting on 1 December 2023.
The deal gives passengers a THB2,000 discount for bookings out of Thailand and a USD50 discount out of Istanbul. Available to travellers who book directly on thaiairways.com using Mastercard, the discount offer ends on 30 November. The travel period runs from 1 December 2023 until 31 March 2024.
THAI chairman of the plan administrators, Piyasvasti Amranand (right) with Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Thailand Serap Ersoy (left), light up the route and destinations at the launch event.
To activate the discount, punch in the code “TGMCBKKIST” to get the THB 2,000 deal and “TGMCISTBKK” for the USD50 if starting the trip in Istanbul. The offer ends at midnight on 30 November 2023
The Mastercard discount deal pushes customers to the website to make bookings, but once on the booking site, the Bangkok -Istanbul offer is not headlined under Popular Fare Deals, which emphasises Asian destinations.
From Bangkok, the best roundtrip fare offer before the Mastercard discount is THB34,850. A one-way fare sells for THB17,330. The Mastercard discount is applicable for both return and one-way fares, so it might make sense to buy two separate one-way fares and enjoy double the rebate – THB2,000 on the outbound sector and USD50 on the return sector. TG confirmed that’s doable. If you book a return flight, you pick up just one rebate, TH2,000 or USD50.
Daily roundtrip flights, Bangkok-Istanbul, will start on 1 December 2023 using an Airbus A350-900 aircraft as follows: TG900 departs daily from Bangkok at 2345 and arrives in Istanbul at 0605 the following day. TG901 departs daily from Istanbul at 1630 and arrives in Bangkok at 0535 the following day.
The airline held a launch event on 1 November in Bangkok presided over by THAI chairman of the plan administrators, Piyasvasti Amranand, with Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Thailand Serap Ersoy who was the guest of honour. Also attending: THAI chief executive officer Chai Eamsiri and airline senior executives.
SINGAPORE, 3 November 2023: After three and a half years of engineering and expansion works, Terminal 2 has fully reopened ahead of schedule, restoring four-terminal operations at Changi Airport.
T2’s completion will meet capacity requirements as Singapore anticipates a full travel recovery to pre-Covid levels in 2024.
The T2 expansion adds 5 million passengers per annum (mppa) to Changi’s capacity, bringing the airport’s total handling capacity to 90 million annually.
Speaking at the T2 Expansion Opening Ceremony earlier this week, Guest of Honour Teo Chee Hean, Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security, said: “The T2 expansion project started in January 2020, two months before Singapore closed its borders because of the Covid-19 pandemic. At the time, no one knew how severe the pandemic would be or how long it would last. But Changi Airport Group (CAG) pushed ahead with the T2 expansion, driven by the conviction that our Changi air hub would not only recover from the pandemic but emerge stronger.”
The T2 expansion project has added more than 21,000 square metres to the terminal building to support additional infrastructure, new systems, and retail offerings. With a central common-use Fast and Seamless Travel (FAST) zone, automated check-in kiosks and bag drop machines have almost doubled. The immigration halls have been expanded to support additional automated immigration lanes, allowing more passengers to be served.
T2 is also the first terminal in Changi to have automated Special Assistance Lanes for persons with disabilities and young children at both arrival and departure immigration. A new early baggage storage system has also been installed that is fully automated with the capacity to handle up to 2,400 bags.
With 16 airlines operating at T2, the terminal has flights connecting to 40 cities. Close to 10 million passengers have been served at T2 since May 2022, when the terminal’s arrival south wing was first reopened. For the month of September 2023, passenger traffic at Changi Airport was about 90% of pre-Covid levels.
HONG KONG, 3 November 2023: Greater Bay Airlines (GBA) will launch Manila – Hong Kong scheduled flights starting 8 November 2023.
The airline will operate five weekly flights between Manila (Ninoy Aquino International Airport) and Hong Kong, offering an early morning schedule (0300 departure) preferred by travellers with a tight business itinerary upon arrival in Hong Kong. Flights from Manila are scheduled on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
To mark the launch of the Manila – Hong Kong service, several promotion offers will roll out to different customer groups such as staff of trade organisations, group travellers and Filipinos working in Hong Kong. Prices of roundtrip tickets for flights departing Manila start from USD50 (applicable taxes and fuel surcharges not included).
The flight schedule of GBA’s Manila – Hong Kong service is as follows:
The airline will deploy a Boeing 737-800 aircraft with an all-economy configuration on the route.
Based in Hong Kong, GBA commenced scheduled service in July 2022 and operates flights to Bangkok, Taipei, Seoul, Tokyo, Osaka and Ho Chi Minh City.
DELHI, 3 November 2023: Antara Cruises, one of India’s river cruising pioneers, won recognition from the US-based Travel Weekly Magellan Awards for its Antara Ganga Vilas, a luxury boutique river ship.
Designed, detailed and crafted in India, the 18-suite river ship won a silver award for the World’s Longest River Cruise in the overall cruising category.
This recognition for Antara River Cruises comes just 10 months after the launch of the world’s longest river cruise from Varanasi to Dibrugarh via Dhaka in Bangladesh. An epic journey, it created headlines in January 2023 when the river ship traversed 3200 km over 51 days, visiting two countries, five states and 27 river systems.
The Antara Ganga Vilas -World’s Longest River Cruise has a fleet of nine ships offering guests an immersive voyage exploring India through slow and sustainable travel along the country’s waterways.
“This is an extremely proud moment for us. We are delighted to receive this esteemed recognition from the jury of the Travel Weekly Magellan Awards. We have had an amazing opening, and it is a great honour for us to be counted among the best in the river cruising business,” said Heritage River Journeys chairman Raj Singh.
“Antara believes the best way to see South Asia is from the river. What began in 2003 as a dream for travel industry pioneer and naturalist Raj Singh has today turned into Antara’s thoughtfully designed, well-appointed fleet of nine ships that sail South Asia’s most iconic rivers, such as the Ganga, Padma and Brahmaputra river systems to make the world’s longest river cruise.
CHIANG MAI, 3 November 2023A: Kudos to Thai Vietjet for taking the first departure slot after midnight as the city’s airport ushered in its 24-hour open status starting 0001 on 1 November.
Airports of Thailand that manages the city’s airport announced the change to an “open all hours” status last week, saying it was activating one of the Prime Minister’s initiatives.
The first off-the-blocks after the clock struck midnight was Thai Vietjet flight VZ822. It departed from Chiang Mai International Airport 0030 on 1 November and landed at Osaka’s Kansai International Airport at 0750 on the same day (local time).
Thai Vietjet chief executive officer Woranate Laprabang praised the policy change. “This marks another milestone for Thai Vietjet as Chiang Mai is one of our most important operation hubs. With nonstop 24/7 operation at Chiang Mai International Airport, Thai Vietjet will be able to provide more flight services with seamless connections to various destinations and enhanced flight schedules, offering more convenient choices of travel to our passengers.”
But a caveat looms over the airline’s enthusiasm concerning the potential of around-the-clock flights. Airport authorities say for now, flights will not be approved to land or take off after 0100 so the good people of Chiang Mai can still catch some sleep. Ultimately, after public response, feedback and town hall debates, the airport will get its way, and the reality of being open all hours will take over from the current theoretical status.
Thai Vietjet recognises the transition to 24-hour operations at Chiang Mai International Airport, saying it promises numerous advantages for passengers, including more flexible booking options, less congestion during busy periods, and improved access to a wide range of destinations the airline serves. The extended hours will facilitate smoother connections for both domestic and international flights, bolstering Chiang Mai International Airport’s status as a crucial hub for tourism.
Currently, Thai Vietjet, in cooperation with Vietjet Group, offers flight services connecting Chiang Mai with many domestic and international destinations, including Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi), Phuket, Osaka, and Ho Chi Minh City.
BANGKOK, 2 November 2023: Southeast Asia-based destination management company Khiri Travel headlines new travel products across eight Southeast Asian countries under six specific themes.
Each Khiri travel experience is listed in one of six categories: Signature, Select, Personality, Sundowner, Picnic, and Wow.
Meet Khiri’s Southeast Asian experts at the two shows: (l to r) Khiri Travel CEO and founder Willem Niemeijer and general managers at WTM, John Black (Cambodia and Laos) and Aini Wikamto (Indonesia); and for Further East, Mahiru Fernando (Sri Lanka) and Aaron Edgington (Vietnam).
The categories give tour operators and travel agents in source markets a quick indication of what to expect. Once a travel agent contacts Khiri Travel, they are registered on Khiri Hub, and they are given full access to all six categories and all the travel products. Khiri Hub for travel agents can be accessed on the Khiri.com home page, or visit: https://khiri.com/khiri-hub/.
Khiri Signature is reserved for special travel experiences that the company says are not offered by other operators.
Khiri Personality is for conversations with renowned local experts such as historians, authors and artists.
Khiri Sundowner presents amazing views at sunset with private drinks service away from other tourists.
Khiri Select is reserved for experiences that reflect the essence of a place with activities that provide insights.
Khiri Picnic allows clients to enjoy the best locally sourced food with the freshest ingredients prepared by locals in appealing locations unconstrained by restaurant availability.
Khiri Wow is for when money is no object.
The categories headline the company’s latest travel products at the World Travel Market (WTM) in London from 6 to 8 November and Further East Bali from 6 to 9 November.
Sample experiences that Khiri will promote at both trade shows include off-the-beaten-track markets and temples in Cambodia and whitewater rafting on the Mae Taeng River in Thailand. There are sunset barbecues on the beach at Hoi An, Vietnam and kayaking to remote villages on Inle Lake in Myanmar. Other options include meeting ethnically diverse tribes of the Bolaven Plateau in Laos and encountering the orangutans of Sumatra in Indonesia.
“We can create remarkable travel experiences by combining categories such as signature, wow, personality and sundowner on any trip. That’s when our 30 years of DMC know-how and intimate knowledge of our destinations shines through,” said Khiri Travel CEO and founder Willem Niemeijer, who will attend WTM.
Khiri Travel offers B2B destination management services to tour operators sending clients to Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and the Maldives.
WTM and Further East
Travel professionals can meet Niemeijer and Khiri’s general manager for Cambodia and Laos, John Black, at Stand N11-400 at WTM London, and Aini Wikamto, general manager of Indonesia, at Stand S10-220.
Khiri Travel will be represented at Further East Bali by Mahiru Fernando, general manager of Khiri Travel Sri Lanka, and Aaron Edgington, general manager of Khiri Travel Vietnam.
